An article on conveyor safety

Conveyors, as with any mechanical or electrical device, can cause safety issues to operators or anyone who works near or around them. Every year people are hurt or killed as a result of accidents on conveyors. Below is a list of simple rules that anyone working on, near or around conveyors should be well versed on:

Do not climb, sit, stand, walk or ride the conveyor at any time

It may seem like common sense but it happens more often than you would like to believe, and usually results in injury or damage to the conveyor.

It is therefore imperative that operators, or anyone involved with the conveyor, not climb on, stand or walk on the conveyor, particularly when it is running.

Always ensure approved guards and covers are in place before operation

Never run, or allow the conveyor to be run, without the guards or covers securely in place. Guards are there for a reason and running the conveyor without them could result in serious injury.

Guards are sometimes removed by employees for maintenance, or because they obstruct someone's access during work. This exposes machinery, gears, chains, and moving parts that are extremely dangerous, so always ensure they are properly replaced before restarting the conveyor.

Only qualified and properly trained personnel to maintain and/or repair the conveyor

Only personnel that have been suitably trained and/or have the applicable qualifications should perform maintenance or repair work on a conveyor.

Conveyors can be dangerous, both mechanically and electrically, to those who do not thoroughly understand the equipment and how to safely work on it.

Also only fully trained and competent personnel will be able to maintain a conveyor sufficiently so that it operates at peak efficiency.

Do not cover up, modify or misuse conveyor controls

Conveyor controls can be very important in the safe running of a conveyor, this includes any kind of electrical or mechanical device used during conveyor operation.

Conveyors should be regularly checked to be sure controls are functioning correctly and that no one has modified, abused or disconnected them.

Keep clothing, body parts and hair away from conveyors

One of the most common ways to get injured by a conveyor is to get clothing, hair or a body part dragged in by a roller.

It is imperative that workers (or anyone near the conveyor) keep their hands off the conveyor whilst it's running. Loose clothing should be tucked in, long hair tied up and ties either thrown over a shoulder or removed.

Visitors should be briefed on the safety regulations and clothing inspected for possible risks before being allowed near the machinery.

Ensure all controls are visible and easily accessible

In case of an emergency all controls need to visible and easily accessible to anyone working on the conveyor.

Regular checks should be made that all controls are in working order and have not been tampered with.

Remove rubbish, scrap or other debris only when power has been disabled to the conveyor

In order to ensure that your conveyor is running safely and efficiently it is important to keep it, and the area around it, clean and free of debris.

However it is unsafe to carry out any cleaning or maintenance on the conveyor whilst it is powered and operating.

Again cleaning staff should be briefed on conveyor safety before being allowed near the machine.

Report all unsafe conditions to authorized, trained personnel

Untrained people trying to clear conveyor jams could result in injury and/or damaged equipment.

Workers/operators should be trained to call maintenance staff to carry out any work on the conveyor, as well as reporting any unsafe conditions like loose guards, people working too close to a conveyor with unrestrained clothing etc.